Seth Meyers opened his first Late Night show with a nod toward his predecessor Monday night, writing one of Jimmy Fallon's trademark "thank you notes" to the new Tonight Show host that promised to treat the show (12:37 a.m. ET/PT) "with respect and dignity, and only use it to do completely original comedy pieces…starting now."

The show introduced a new studio (8G) and a new band (the 8G Band, of course) led by Fred Armisen, who did some mock-serious banter with the host. And Meyers thanked his brother, actor Josh, his wife Alexi and his parents, who couldn't be there because "the Secret Service deemed them a risk."

As expected, the first show stuck to the tried-and-true late-night formula. Meyers did a hit-or-miss monologue, and relayed an anecdote about a flat tire on the way back from a romantic weekend with Alexi that involved getting help from a patron at a diner. "It feels very hard to look macho when you're holding a tiny dog while another man changes your wife's tire."

He unveiled what appeared to be a regular segment, Venn Diagrams, that juxtaposed two unrelated events but found common linkage. As in: "Snow and toilet paper: Two things you won't find in Sochi."

First guest Amy Poehler had a stare-off with fellow former Saturday Night Live star Armisen, joking, "It's hard sometimes to be friends after being very turbulent lovers." She had words for master prankster George Clooney: "I want to say something to George Clooney that no woman has ever said to him, and that's, 'George, please stop.'"

And she was excited that Vice President Biden, a "gorgeous charm monster," would follow her as the show's second guest. (Biden is the crush object of her Parks and Recreation character and appeared on that show.)

Meyers chatted with Biden about his expressive faces at the State of the Union Address, his disdain for New York's LaGuardia Airport and his love of high-speed trains. He also asked the V.P. about his intentions for the 2016 election: "I planned on making a major announcement tonight, but I decided tonight's your night, so I'm hoping you'll invite me back."

And Amy, Meyers wondered, what about your 2016 plans? "Oh, I'm going to run for president."